Gotcha 1 year Anna

We rather quietly celebrated the 1 year mark of walking our little girl out the baby home in Artem, Russia. It just fills me with such emotions. She was such a brave little soul as we left the home she'd known for 17 months. One kind caregiver saw us off, without much to-do.

I just heard back from the searcher we were going to use for the birth family search. He does not see any way he can help us. The information is too scant and incomplete. I guess that is why it took us 13 months to get a court date. I feel very sad by this news. Somehow, no matter what the circumstances were, I just wanted someone from her birth family to know what a joy and special child Anna is and that we are trying to give her the best life possible. I'm not sure what all I was expecting, as I know her start in life was difficult, but for the moment I just feel sadness. I can just focus on the fact that we persevered and were able to walk her out of that baby home.....WE were meant to be her family.

One year as Anna's parents!!

One year ago we sat in a Russian courtroom and our petition was granted to be Anna's mommy and daddy forever. Wow, sometimes I don't think Anna has grown and changed that much since we got her as she still seems so tiny, but look at the difference! She has just finished her first week in preschool and its going quite well, but drop-offs seem to be getting harder. The teachers assure me she only cries for a few minutes after I leave, but its still hard. But, when I pick her up she's always happy and tells me she had a "good day". I got her a little gift that we will give her this evening, even though she really won't have a clue why we're celebrating. Still, she'll love her new Buzz and Woody. Anna just continues to amaze me, is such a happy girl, so social, and just a precious gift to our family.

3rd Birthday and other updates

Fun at Gymboree





At The Alamo

San Antonio Riverwalk

Anna just LOVES swimming and jumping in the pool



I keep thinking I should probably stop this blog. I keep passing up many milestones that I should be posting about. Two days ago marked 2 years since we met Anna. I can't believe its been that long, I guess mainly because we haven't even had her home a year yet. Its time again for our second Post Placement Report. Hopefully our agency will get out here in the next few weeks. I'm having to bug them.

At the beginning of the month we flew to Texas and visited with extended family in San Antonio for a week. We had the BEST time and the kids did amazing. After returning from Russia, a few hours in the air just seemed like a piece of cake. We'll definitely have to do it again soon and keep in touch with all the fabulous family we have there.

I will just leave with a slew of pictures from the last month. We are enjoying our summer. Its going to be very hard to switch gears in 2 weeks when the kids start school.

Pretend City

This place is a blast for little kids. Anna and Dylan both loved it. There's a grocery store, fire station, cafe, music stage, farm, beach, doctor's office, and more. Anna wanted to do everything, but mainly loved driving her little car around the city and was afraid to do anything for too long because she didn't want another kid to take "her" car.

Another Haircut

So I was taking pictures to post how short they cut her bangs and how terrible they look, but the pictures came out so cute!! I think she's just totally photogenic and a little cutie pie because the haircut reminds me way too much of the bad baby home cut. I shouldn't say that, the bangs are just too short, but I know I just have issues as I soooo don't like the little boy cuts they give the girls in Russia.